Fatal Crash Claims Two Ashland High School Students, Emergency Crews Respond
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a single-vehicle crash that claimed the lives of two teenagers early Sunday morning. On February 22nd around 12:44 a.m., deputies responded to a motor vehicle crash in the 1350 block of East Nevada Street in rural Ashland. Upon arrival, emergency personnel located an Audi A6 that had struck a tree. The car was occupied by five 17-year-old juveniles. The driver was pronounced deceased at the scene. Jackson County Fire District 5 and Ashland Fire & Rescue personnel conducted a complex extrication to remove the remaining occupants from the vehicle. The Ashland Police Department responded to assist with the investigation. Mercy Flights transported the four remaining occupants to a local hospital with critical injuries. Shortly after arrival, a passenger was pronounced deceased. The three remaining occupants continue to receive care at the hospital and are in stable condition. The families of those involved have been notified. Out of respect for their privacy, the names of the juveniles are being withheld. All five occupants were students at Ashland High School. ...Read more

PacifiCorp Pays $575 Million Oregon and California Wildfire Settlement

PacifiCorp has agreed to pay $575 million to resolve the United States’ claims for damages resulting from six wildfires in Oregon and California. The four Oregon fires are the South Obenchain Fire, which began on September 8th, 2020, east of Eagle Point and burned 14,780 acres of federal land, the 242 Fire near Chiloquin, the Archie Creek Fire near French Creek in the Umpqua National Forest, and the Echo Mountain Complex Fire near Otis. The two California fires are the Slater Fire and the McKinney Fire. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the settlement resolves the United States’ claims that PacifiCorp’s electrical lines negligently started all six fires. The settlement monies will help repay the United States for the substantial costs it incurred fighting the fires, a critical move now that U.S. Forest Service spends more than half of its budget on wildfire suppression annually. ...Read more

Colleen Martin and Gary Richardson Appointed to BCC

The Temporary Board of Other Elective Administrative Officers have chosen who will fill the Commissioner vacancies. After tabulating the scores of all nine interviews, Josephine County Commissioner Position Two will be filled by Colleen Martin, and Position One will be held by Gary Richardson. A motion to accept the tallied results passed unanimously. Pending background checks, both will be sworn in to the positions Monday the 23rd. A new chair of the board will be elected at a later date. ...Read more